31. Peaceful Pre-War Times
Picture this, but with an 80% increase in rust and debris.
Fallout 4 takes place in a retro 50s, post-war era where the expansion of technology erupted in a nuclear war between the world's major powers. The resulting nuclear fallout decimated the land, leaving behind ghoulified humans, mutants, and radiation poisoning. Decades later, survivors and emerging vault-dwellers struggle in a decimated world rife with feral ghouls, beasts, super mutants, raiders, and ever dwindling supplies.
30. The Battered Remnants of Civilization
Decimated streets are littered with raiders, mutants, camps, loot, and unfair speed limits.
The world of fallout is expansive, offering a multitude of ruined areas and cityscapes to explore. Touches of settlers and raiders decorate the broken structures, the only sign that life is still present. As soon as you emerge from Vault 111, you're plunged into a desolate world where each and every encounter fills you with the desperate thrill of a lone survivor.
29. The Ravaged Commonwealth
Destroyed, desolate, and dangerous—yet somehow so serene.
The wasteland is an unforgiving place, but a certain bleak beauty can still be percieved amongst the rubble. Everything may be wrecked and dirty, but you can't help but admire the scenery.
28. Combat Amongst Debris
Those pesky mailmen.
You're not alone in the wastes. Companions can tag along and fight with you, joining you in the struggle against the rampant dangers of the Commonwealth. The feral ghouls lurking around every corner feel a lot less threatening when man's best friend is watching your back.
27. Cinematic V.A.T.S. in Action
When an enemy closes in, V.A.T.S. is always there to bail you out. That and it looks cool.
For a more cinematic experience, use V.A.T.S. to slow time and automatically attack targets you pick, such as a raider's left leg, torso, or head. The success of your shot or strike is determined by your stats and the target's proximity. You can watch the blood fly and the head's pop in glorious slow motion.
26. A Relaxing Day on the Beach
At least someone was having a good time when the bombs fell.
Pre-war evidence can be found in the most unlikely of places. Be it with loot, background information, or sights such as these, careful investigation will be rewarded.
25. One of the Many Settlements Dotting the Land
Diamond City, where not even nuclear armegeddon can stop people from liking baseball.
Despite the lack of resources, survivors have scrounged what little material there is to build shelters and even supply power. You can visit many settlements in the game, with Diamond City standing out as the gem of gems. Here you can find quests, supplies, and maybe even a place to put up your feet.
24. The Streets of Goodneighbor
Moreso than its predecessor, Fallout 4 is chock-full of city life and colorful characters.
While the wasteland may be near uninhabitable, the Commonwealth teems with interesting personalities. Interaction is important in Fallout 4, as a silver tongue will earn you benefits and allies. Every location has someone interesting to talk to.
23. Brotherhood of Steel Power Armor and Minigun
The Commonwealth is comprised of multiple factions, such as this knight from the Brotherhood of Steel.
Factions in Fallout 4 are often at odds with each other. Play your cards right, and you can join up with a group of like-minded individuals. Your choices and the factions you join have effects on what people think of you—namely whether they see you as friend or foe.
22. The Magnificent Prydwen
With factions, come bases. Or war blimps in the sky, in the Brotherhood's case.
If you can see it, you can go there—even when what you spot is flying high. Factions have a real presence in the Commonwealth. Search long enough, and you'll eventually run into them.
21. Random Encounters with Knights
Don't be too impressed. They're hunting down Radstag, which are two-headed deer.
Random encounters can result in a tense firefight between minutemen and raiders. Or, in some cases, Brotherhood Knights packing laser weapons and power armor desperately chasing the wasteland's meekest wildlife. Whatever you run into, taking a stroll through the Commonwealth is never a dull day.
20. A Feral Ghoul Ambush along the Railway
Feral ghouls run rampant, killing, maiming, and making spooky sounds.
As you walk unsuspecting along a broken highway, a sleeping corpse growls at your feet. Suddenly, you're surrounded by half a dozen gurgling, mauling ghouls. They run, they tackle, they swipe, they fall apart at the most gentle of shoulder taps. Ferals may look frightening, but they're only a threat when you stumble into a swarm. Of course, that doens't apply to Glowing Ones.
19. Another Lone Wanderer
Fallout's vast landmass offers hours upon hours of exploration.
It's easy to get lost in one of the many side alleys and roads leading to hidden gems and battered landmarks. You can spend hours just wandering the wastes, taking in all the sights and investigating places of interest.
18. Decimated Ruins of Boston Landmarks
One of the many landmarks to unsafely explore.
Each landmark is unique, and numerous exploration points litter the map. You'll never know just what lurks in the depths of these forgotten facilities and tunnels until you step inside and see for yourself.
17. A Ferocious Mutant Bear
One of the many things that will kill you.
Tunneling molerats and zipping bloat flies are annoying enough, but none of the mutant animals will send you packing quite like a yao guai. These mutated, monstrous bears roam the forest wastes. If you're lucky, you'll spot it before it spots you.
16. What’s Left of a Crumbling Highway
Highway to nowhere.
Roads and traveling cars litter the wastes, frozen in time from when the bombs struck. While the raised highways no longer connect, supplies, raiders, and camps can be found amongst the abandoned cars and rusted trucks.
15. A Quest-Giver and Potential Companion
There's always someone looking for you to do their dirty work.
Fallout 4 is full of quests. Talking to people or helping out a survivor in need will unlock opportunities to perform tasks and earn rewards. Or, if you learn more towards the psychotic end of the spectrum, you can shoot whoever's asking for help and take everything they own anyway. Hey, it's a dogmeat eat dogmeat world out there.
14. A Loot-Rich Raider Den
"Sic em, boy!"
Different companions give unique benefits in battle. For example, Dogmeat will temporarily distract enemies, leaving you to swoop in and deliver the killing blow. Companions can be given weapons and armor to boost their skills.
13. Man’s Best Friend
"Good boy! Now who wants some iguana bits? You do! You do!"
Be nice to your friends. If your companions approve of you and you treat them well, you'll unlock unique perks you can't get anywhere else. Plus it'll make you feel like a good person.
12. Swarmed by Feral Ghouls
This would be a good time for V.A.T.S. Or a baseball bat. Scratch that, make it a Fat Man.
Enemies such as ghouls aren't content with sitting back and letting you pick them off. If they see you, they'll charge you with all the speed of an angry flash mob. Melee weapons and a trusty companion will help you out in close combat situations.
11. A Sealed Airlock Leading Into a Vaul
Where it all began.
Vaults, pre-war bunkers used to protect residents against the world's impending doom, dot the Commonwealth. Uncovering one of these hidden havens could land you with some nifty gear—or a strange situation.
10. Deterioration Found Inside Pre-War Buildings
Between raiders, super mutants, and the threat of radiation, no one has time to clean up anymore.
Environments are gloriously decimated. Little details from scrap, to clutter, to skeletons, to rust can be found throuought the wasteland's interiors. Not only is the atmosphere tense and unsettling, it's detailed enough to explore, too.
9. Signs of Twisted Survivors
The local residents are delightfully kooky.
Gems such as this lie tucked away behind closed doors and around the curve of subway tunnels. The post-war world is a disturbing, strange place.
8. An Established Settlement
The town of Goodneighbor, where ghouls, synths, and humans coexist in relative harmony.
Each settlement has its own unique personality, affected by different threats and factions. In addition to new quests, varying sights, characters, and items can be discovered.
7. A Murky, Flooded Tunnel
Oh, sure. This is safe.
Danger lurks in every tunnel. Raiders, ghouls, radroaches, and other irradiated monstrosities lie in wait for the sound of approaching footsteps. Don't disturb the water.
6. Dangerous Enemies Prowl the Wastes
Super mutants make it their mission to destroy every other living thing. Especially you.
Super mutants are different from feral ghouls in that they aren't mindless creatures lurking in dark tunnels and abandoned railroads. They still want to kill you on site, however.
5. A Battle in the Wilderness
Great, now they have laser guns.
A fight with a super mutant is like battling a cross between a raider and one of the wasteland's more dangerous creatures. As tough as a yao guai and as armed as a Brotherhood Knight, super mutants are sure to give you trouble.
4. Fire + Bullets = One Angry Super Mutant
Not even a gunshot to the chest or being set on fire will stop a super mutant.
Sometimes, it takes extreme measures to take an enemy down. Sometimes extreme measures aren't enough. If you're prepared, there are always ways to get out of a situation. You can also run, assuming you still have your legs.
3. Irradiated, Leveled Plains
The Glowing Sea is even more ravaged than the rest of the wastes.
If exploring the ravaged cityscape of Boston isn't enough to appease your wanderlust, you can head south into uncharted, unsurvivable territory. If you venture into the Glowing Sea, good luck. You'll need it.
2. A Mutated Jackson’s Chameleon, Now Turned Killing Machine
The aptly named Deathclaw poses the greatest threat in the wastes.
Congratulations. You're in the Glowing Sea. You've beaten the radiation, the insects, and the hordes of shambling feral ghouls. Now you've stumbled upon the true terror of the wastes. A ferocious, limb-crippling Deathclaw.
1. Deathclaw Fatality
"Just the toothpick I was looking for."
Luck can't save you now.
This is a little taste of the sights you'll see and the things you'll come across while exploring the vast expanses of Fallout 4. What have you come across in the wild, wild wasteland? Leave your thoughts and adventures in the comments below.
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